UK government set to introduce 1% gambling levy
The British government said on Tuesday it was considering a new levy on online gambling companies of up to 1% in a move it predicts would raise 100 million pounds per year to fund research, prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.
While a voluntary levy already exists, the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said in a statement on Tuesday that some operators were paying as little as 1 pound towards research, prevention and treatment.
“The Government is minded to set the levy as a new 1% fee on gross gambling yield for online gambling operators, while traditional betting shops and casinos will pay a proposed fee of around 0.4%,” DCMS said.
The government wants to tackle problem gambling and bring regulations up to date after a rise in betting via smartphones on apps and other online platforms where wagers are just a click away.